Dr. Phil's Potty Training Method

On a recent television broadcast the popular Dr Phil suggests that parents buy and use an anatomically correct potty doll that wets itself in order to help teach the child to go potty.

What you need to begin:
A potty training doll that wets
A potty chair
Toddler Underwear (Not pull-ups, diapers or padded underwear)
Lots of liquids for your child and the doll to drink

The Dr. Phil Potty Training Method:

Step 1: Teach a Doll That Wets
Your child will learn by teaching the doll how to go potty. Have your child name the doll and give it something to drink. Then walk the doll to the potty chair with your child.
Pull the doll's "big kid" underwear down and watch the doll go potty together.

Step 2: Throw the Doll a Potty Party!
When the doll successfully goes potty, throw a potty party! Make it a big blowout with party hats, horns and celebrate. Give lots of attention to the doll so that your child understands that going potty is a good thing.

Let your child know that when he/she goes potty, they will have a potty party too. Not only that, your child gets to call their favorite superhero to tell them what they just did!

Step 3: Get Rid of the Diapers
At the beginning of the process you placed "big kid" underwear on your child's doll. Now it's time to take away the diapers and put "big kid" underwear on your child.

Step 4: Drink Lots of Fluids
Give your child plenty of fluids to drink. The sooner he/she has to go potty, the sooner you can begin potty training.

Step 5: Ten Trips to Potty When Accident
Ask your child if he/she needs to go potty. Your child might say no and that's OK. Because you've given your child plenty of fluids, he/she will soon need to go. If your child has an accident in their underwear, don't scold him/her. You want this to be a positive experience.

Take your child to the potty, pull his/her underwear down, and have your child sit down. Do this nine times. This builds muscle memory and your child will eventually go.

Step 6: Let the Celebration Begin!
When your child successfully goes potty, throw him/her a potty party. Most importantly, your child can now call his/her favorite superhero and tell the hero about what they just did! Enlist the help of a friend or relative to play the hero and take the phone call.

When your child has an accident, simply take him/her to the bathroom nine times in a row as you did before. This will continue to build his/her muscle memory. And don't forget to keep up the positive reinforcement.